Universal connecter and support



p 1931- H. L. LIBERTY 1,801,632

UNIVERSAL CONNECTER AND SUPPORT Filed Oct. 4. 1928 1/5 75' Haw L4zber ly 4 Patented Apr. 21, 1931 PATENT OFFICE HARRY L. LIBERTY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS UNIVERSAL CONNECTEB, AND SUPPORT Application filed October 4, 1928.

This invention relates to a universal connecter and support for supporting fixtures and the like on electric outlet boxes, and is usefulfor securing the outlet boxes to hanger strips when same are used.

Outlet boxes for electrical connections are at the present time secured to fastening strips or hangers. applied to the framework of a building as the framework goes up and before the time that the fixtures are installed. The boxes are made with a plurality of apertures, closed by the metal of the box, which closures may be readily removed to make available any ofsuch apertures for use in attaching fixtures 0r conduits and the like.

At the present time the outlet boxes are fastened to the strips or hangers by bolts or by slides on the strips to which the boxes may be subse uently fastened. Outlet boxes for wall brac ets have to be deeper than the boxes for other outlets, and the slides have been found disadvantageous with respect to the use of the deep outlet boxes. Under some conditions, however, the boxes are put in place without hanger strips.

My invention is especially useful in connectlon with the application of deep outlet boxes for wall brackets or where brackets are to be built in such situations where it'is difficult or almost impossible to apply fastening bolts through the strips. It also eliminates the necessity of the sliding box connecter now in use. It is also useful without hanger strips for attaching fixtures and the like to the outlet boxes after same have been put in place, as it may be readily hooked through any of the openings in the box from the inside. i An object of my invention is to provide a connecter for outlet boxes which may be readily applied anywhere along the supporting or fastening strips after the strips have been installed, and which is clamped in position on the strip with the box without the use of the usual bolts.

1 Another object of the invention is to provide a universal connecter and support for outlet boxes which may be applied to a supporting strip anywhere along the same after installation of the strip, and which connecter Serial No. 310,280.

is fastened in cessible.

A further object is to provide a connecter for outlet boxes which may be hooked over an attaching strip to receive an outlet box, and which is secured in position with the outlet box thereon by a single member. I

Another object is to provide a universal member for attaching fixtures to outlet boxes without a hanger strip.

A further object is to provide a support for a fixture or conduit which may be readily and securely fastened in any of the several openings of the outlet box without the use of bolts, screws or the like.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a connecter for outlet boxes which is economical to manufacture, strong and durable in use, quickly and readily applied and efiicient for the purposes intended.

A yet further object of the invention is to provide a connecter which may be hooked over a support for holding in lace an outlet box, or which connecter may be hooked into engagement with any of the holes in the box for securing fixtures or the connections to the box, and which connecter is applied from the inside of the box, hooked and fastened in a selected position within the compass of the box and without requiring special fittings and the like.

The above and further objects of the in vention will be apparent from the following description and drawings, and appended claims.

This invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

According to the invention, the connecter comprises a single member having a hollow cylindrical boss to receive the outlet box, and a hook having one open end to engage over the attaching strip with means for clamping the box and the member on the strip by the same nut or other clamp.

One form of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, and the views thereof are as follows:

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a section through a ceiling with position by means readily ac Figured-is an enlargedfragmentary plan 'view of an outlet box and an attachingstrip, with a full elevation of the connecter.

Figure 5 is an elevational'view or" the other end of the connecter from that shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a side elevation oi the connecter with a nut on the threaded boss.

Figure? is a. side view showing in full and dotted lines the manner of applying the: connecterto' an attaching strip or hanger.

. Figure: 8' is. an enlarged fragmentali section through an outlet boxishowing. the conn'ecter" clamped in position to support a fixture or conduit; Y

Asishown onthe'drawings-z 7 Building; frame. members 1 and'2 have fastened thereto an attaching. strip or hanger of the usual kind. The strip is attached by nails 4 passingthroughzone of the. openings-h-in the strip 3 and into the frame members-liandr2l Figure 1 showsashallow outletbox. (S-fastoned" to: the hanger; orstrip 3 by 'the'connect-er-i'l v r Figure 2.shows frame members 8 and 9, .to whichais attached by nails lOa hangeror at taching strip ll. Themttachingstrip 11% has an ofiset portion;12eformedtl1erein for the recepti'on of the deeper outlet box 13 which is fastened'byi the connecter 7.

The connecter 7 comprises cylindrical" boss 14 which ishollow and which is threaded 0n the 'inside'and the outside. A hook 15- is integraliwith thebossl and includes a fiat sunface-lfi with shoulders 17 and? 18, at the ends; or": the surface and arranged substantia'llyperpendicular thereof for abutting the margins of the attaching strips toprevent lateral displacement or tipping of the box.

The length ofthe hook and its end surfaces 19; and 2lzis=greater than the size ofthe aperture in the connection box thru which the h ookis inserted from the inside ofthe box.

The connecter is made. so that the hook has an open end 19 defining a recess between-the surfacelG thereof and the surface definedby theoutline 204 The outline 20 is curivedand conyergesfor at least a portion of its-length towards thezclosedend of the hook 15 that is towards-the: shoulder 17. The ends of the hooks.-,19'and-21 are flat; to rest against theback wall of the outlet box When the same is assembledon the strip by, meansofthe connecter 7-,- and-torest against'the rearsof the walls of the box when insertedtherein for; supporting a fixture or the like; 7

- Figure 3 shows a'deep outletbox 13' atas is shown in Figure 7. The connecter may be. readily applied tothe. attaching strip described.

The member Z having the open hook and the flat faces Hand 21 is inserted through oi the apertures 22 in the box, central or otherwise, from the inside of the box after same has been set and brought to a bear ing with the flat faces 19 and 21 against the rear of the box and with the boss'14 projecting: through the aperture for attachment there-toof aiclamp-anct also fixture orfthe like whereby the fixture or the like may be readily supportelwithout the; use of! the hanger strips.

The support 7 ishookedthrough an aperture in the box from. the inside of the. box as the open end of the hook and the depth'ot same readily allowsthe hook to pass'ever a porti'en. of: the: box. adjacent the aperture: so as tol enable the manipulation of the connecten for the-purpose or" fastening. the hook: and its endsurfaces l2 and 21 to such aperture for en agement with. the: outer surface: of the boxau'jacenttheaperture.

As ordinarilyused the outletibox after the connect er has beenhcoked over theattaching i-placed'ove'r theibosssle of the consothat th boss passes-througha cen tral or any oifitheusualscircular. holes 22in the outlet box;v A1elampingmemhersuch. asan nut 23 is'th-en applied over the outerithrlead'ed surface 01"" the-boss l l againstthe inner surface of the back wall of the outletboxi and tightenec. This; brings the ends of: the

several" p arts into sthep ositi on show-ruin i Figure 3,- and i's tig'htened until? the box? is: se cured: on the attaching strip...

The recess-betweenthe ho'okilifi an d the boss shaped.- as-it is permitsrready application of the 'connecter to any attaching. strip; The

shoulders 17 and 18prevent lateral displacement of: the connecter when applied to the attaching strip; 1

Figure 8 shows the connecter applieclto an outlet box by being clamped in one-of the apertures 22 for" supporting a" fixture or conduit in position in the box, as sometimes it is necessary to so support a fixture: or al c'on-' manner. Whenever it is time for the applica tion of the outlet boxes the boxes are connected by hooking. one of the connecters over the attaching strip from the inside of the box and fastening the outlet box to the connecter in the mannerheretofore described. r

The outlet boxes are of standard shape, size and arrangement, as are the attaching strips. My connecter may be used with any standard boxes and strips. While I have described more or less precisely the details of construction of my invention, yet I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself thereto, as I am aware that changes maybe made in the arrangement and proportion of parts and that equivalents may be substituted, all without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim as my invention: 1. A universal support for attaching fixtures and the like to outlet boxes comprising a member having an open ended hook for insertion through an aperture in the box from the inside of the box, said hook having end extensions providing faces for engaging the rear of box adjacent the apertures, said members also having a boss projecting through said aperture, and a clamp engaging the inside of said box and said boss for fastening said member in position to receive a fixture or the like.

2. A universal support for use with electric outlet boxes comprising a member having an open ended hook, a central boss and substantally flat faces adjacent the hook whereby said member may be hooked over a hanger strip for supporting a box thereon and also may be hooked through an aperture in said box for supporting a fixture on the box with the faces of said member engaging the outside of the box adjacent the aperture, and means engaging the inside of said box for clamping said member in position.

3. A universal connecter for attaching outlet boxes to hanger strips, comprising a member having an open ended hook for engaging a strip and a portion of said box, a boss for receiving an outlet box, and a clamp on said boss for fastening said box and said member in position on the strip.

4. A universal connecter for attaching outlet boxes to supporting strips, comprising a member having an open ended hook for engaging an attaching strip and a portion of said box, a threaded boss for receiving an outlet box, and a nut in threaded engagement with said boss for fastening said box and said member in position on a strip.

5. A universal connecter for an outlet box comprising a single fitting having an open ended hook thereon arranged to hook over a supporting strip and to receive an outlet box thereon, said fitting being applicable from the inside of the box and means on said I fitting acting against the inside of said box for clamping said box and said member in any position along said strip.

6. In combination, a universal connecter for an outlet box comprising a single member having a shouldered hook to engage about an attaching strip and the adjacent side of an outlet box, an outlet box on said connecter, said member being applicable from the inside of the box through an aperture therein, and a clamp on said fitting acting against the inside of said box-for fastening said box to said connecter and said connecter to said strip.

7. A universal connecter for securing an outlet box to an attaching strip, comprising a single member having a hollow threaded boss, a shouldered hook integral with the boss having an open end for hooking over the strip from inside of the box, the end of the boss adjacent the hook being inclined to permit ready application of the connecter to the strip, and a nut engaging said threaded boss for securing an outlet box thereon and fastening said member to said strip.

8. A universal connecter for securing an outlet box to an attaching strip and applicable from inside of the box through an aperture therein, comprising a single member having a hollow threaded boss, a shouldered hook integral with the boss having an open end for hooking over the strip, said hook being longer than the size of the hole through which it is applied the end of the boss adjacent the hook being inclined to permit ready application of the connecter to the strip, and a nut engaging said threaded boss inwardly of the box; for securing an outlet box thereon and fastening said member to said strip, said inclined end of said boss converging from the open end of the hook'towards the closed end of the same.

9. A universal connecter and support for electric outlet boxes comprising a single mem ber for receiving an outlet box and applicable from inside the box through an aperture therein, said member having an open ended hook for engagement over an attaching strip, and means cooperating with the boss for fastening the outlet box inwardly of the box and said member in position anywhere along said strip.

10.'In combination an electric outlet box support including an attaching strip to be secured on the framework of a building, a box connecter comprising a single fitting having an open ended hook at one end thereof to engage over the strip and a boss to receive an outlet box, an outlet box arranged over said boss, said connecter being applicable from inside the box through an aperture therein for hooking engagement with a strip and means inwardly of said box for clamping said box on said connecter, said means also clamping said connecter to said strip.

11. A universal fixture support for an electric outlet box comprising a member hav ingrashook forhookingrtliroughmn r of the several apertures? in; the: box; a: boss-integral with l the:- hook to: roj ect: through: the I aperturegbearingzsurfacestintegraliwith said-hook torriengagingtthesrean of the'fbo'x'adj a c'ent the apertureand-1 means 1 for securing;- said merniberi-nzpositiontoa'supportza fixture.

12; A universali fixture: support for outlet boxes comprising-ran outlet box, a memberar ranged-t be: hooked through an aperture." in

the' boxiand: have a. bearing: against: the rear of thebox; adjacent the azperture azboss in tegraltherewit-h to project through: the aperture and support ftxturerthereom and means engaging against= tlie'inside' of said box-tor locking; said? member insaid box;

1 13. A universali'fixture-supportafor outlet boxes, in combination with? an outlet. box, a member-shaving; a'bosstoz'project throughiany ofthe:several-apertures of said-box, said-member'having an open ended hook at: one' end thereof Whichhookis applied in-position'by being passed; through a selected: aperture: in said box from: inside: the box, said hook having an: end: thereof extended-t0 bear against the-outer surface of said boxv When secured in position, and means engaging said boss and said boxinwardly of said boxefor securing saidmembersto said box.

14% A universal fixture support. including an outlet box having an aperture; therein an attachingzconnecter having a hook end insertable throughsaidiaperture 'from'the inside :of the: box for engaging a support, saidhook having, an extended portion for contacting with'the outsidesurfa-ceof: said box; When in position, andza clamp engaging; said member andbearing against the inside of thedoox Ifor clampingtsaid box andsaid member tonal sup port, said member having means for co-op eratingwith a fixture. V V V 15-. universal fixturesupport: including a stud havingan open ended hook at one end, said'. stud. being; applicable. to? a support i through'an aperture in a-OODHQ'CtlOIIbOXEfLOHI aperture; and. a" clamp on said studt acting against the interior of: said boxtior fasten ing saids artsJtOgether.

17 A universal fixture supportfor outlet I boxes comprising: a:- cylindricah member of uniform size fr01n= end to end, said: member use items 7 having:- K001i. at one, endwhich; hook is: of" greater: length: than: the; transverse: dimen Sim-set saidmember, said member bei'ngifap plicahle to-a-wconnection-box b engagingsaid.

hook over: themargin: of an apertureuni said box and moving" the same'laterally; so." that said: hook passes throughsaidi aperture-with the body-of the member insa id: aperture, and withia partof the hook. against a portion of the outer face of the box and a clampengag? ing, said member inwardly of the box. for

drawing; saidihook" against theoutside of the boxjadjacentthe aperture;

In \testimenywhereofl have hereunto sub-- scribed my name.

r HARRY L. LI'BEREY. 

